2 more reasons

...why I don't shop on black Friday. Granted the main reason is because I'm lazy, but things like this are just crazy. I know most people don't take their shopping this seriously, but sadly things like this happen, and you never know when or where the crazy people will be.
worker dies
shooting at toysrus
I know the second story said it wasn't Black Friday sale related, but I'm not sure I that the story they are releasing is the full story. I can'tbelieve people get this insane over getting a good deal. YIKES!

5 years

Today is our 5th anniversary. Early in the year our plan was to take a big vacation without the kids since we never had a honeymoon, but instead we spent today having thanksgiving at my mom's and waiting on me to have this baby. Not a bad way to spend today, but it's definitely not where I thought we'd be when we got married 5 years ago. I am so thankful for such an amazing husband and the family we've made. It has been such a great 5 years, even though it hasn't always been easy. I can't wait to see what amazing things life will bring us in the future.

being thankful

I feel like I complain on this blog a lot, mainly because it's my outlet for whatever is going on that is bothering me, but I know I have a lot to be thankful for. Here are just some of the things I'm thankful for:
~Having fabulous friends and family that I truly love and care about, and that I know will always be there for me.
~Having 3 (soon to be 4) beautiful and healthy children, even if they drive me insane some days.
~Having an amazing husband who puts up with all my imperfections, and who is an amazing father to our children.
~Having a nice home, food to eat, and enough money to take care of our family, even if we aren't always using it wisely. lol!
~Being able to share wonderful memories of family members that are no longer with us with children.

There are so many things to be thankful for, and I know I often take them for granted. So what are you thankful for this year?

37 weeks

Had my 37 week appointment tonight, and I have made a little progress. I'm dilated to 2 now. I'm glad I'm progressing, but 1/2cm in two weeks is not much to be excited about. Especially when all weekend I was having some painful contractions. Everything is still fine with both me and the baby though, and that's really all I can ask for. Now I'm ready to get this labor business going.

done deal

Well the AB INbev deal officially went through today. Now we just have to wait and see what happens. I am glad that the union guys got their contract renewed before today and they are good to go for the next 5 years. I really am glad that they don't have to worry about losing their jobs. Unfortunately Sean is not union, but we're holding out hope that he won't be laid off right away.
This is such a sad day for St. Louis.

36 weeks

I had my 36 week appointment tonight, and guess what... I didn't gain any weight! In fact if I'd taken off the ginormous sweat shirt I was wearing, I probably would have lost 1/2 pound or so. Anyway, the doctor did not check to see if I was dilated anymore, boooo. I know, I'm a freak. I like knowing if I'm dilated more than last time, but he said he'll check next week for sure, so let's all pray for progress. He did feel around on my stomach, and said the baby is head down, which makes me super happy. I've been nervous about that ever since the baby was breech at my 20 something week ultrasound, and at this point it would be really difficult and unlikely for the baby to turn, so I'm feeling good about the baby's position. My group B strep test was negative, so yay for more good news.
I'm also far enough along that if I did go into labor now I could go to our hospital of choice. The hospital we go to does not have a special care nursery, so if the baby was too early and/or had any complications, they would have to be moved to another hospital in the area that could help them. I love the hospital we go to, so I'm glad we've reached this milestone.
Only 25 days to go, unless I get lucky and actually have this baby a little early. Check back next week for more updates!

stupidity

I can't believe Motrin thought this commercial was a good idea in the first place, but then they went through with it and actually made the commercial and aired it.

I don't know how I'd survive without my carriers, and honestly my back and arms are less tired and sore when I use a carrier. If it hurts when you are baby-wearing, chances are you are doing it wrong.
Anyway, because of this commercial, one of my favorite stores has put all their carriers on sale. To save 10% on any carrier at Cotton Babies use the code WEARME. The sale is good through November 23rd. Happy shopping!
And here is a picture of Megan happily riding in the Ergo with dad. Don't they both look miserable?!

family

I love my family, and I'm not just talking about Sean and the kids. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing extended family. Today we had our annual get together with my dad's family. There were 50 of us there, and that isn't even all of us. I love my family and the time we spend together. Thankfully Sean enjoys spending time with my family and loves these gatherings too. The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins, even though they are still trying to figure out what a cousin is. I love that we all make time once a year to get together like this. It is getting harder and harder now that we are all growing up and have families of our own, but I think this weekend is special to all of us because everyone always makes it in, even if they have to drive 5 hours, and sometimes more, to get here. I wish I had pictures to share with you of the kids being silly, and Sean playing beer pong, but of course I forgot my camera. Luckily one of my cousins is going to send me some when she gets home, so I'll share them as soon as I have them.

35 weeks

I had my 35 week appointment today, and yet again, all is well. My weight gain is finally at a normal rate, thank god! The doctor did the group b strep test today, and checked to see if I was dilated at all. I am dilated to 1 1/2cm which isn't much considering I was 4cm before I was even in labor with Megan, but it's more than zero, which is what really matters. I go back in a weekw, and will be hoping for even more progress.

slowing down

I know this may sound compltetly contradictory to my last post about nesting, but I'm getting so big that I've had to slow down on how much I can do. Thankfully Sean and the kids have been helping out a lot with the housework. It has hit me recently that the kids were not really doing any housework regularly except cleaning up the toys, and that is not ok. At 4 and 5, they are quite capable of so much more. Please don't think I'm planning on turning the kids into slaves, but I do think it's important that they start doing their part of the work. They really can do a lot, and do it well. I am just going to have to give up control over exactly how things get done. I've been working on this as Sean has had to take on more housework lately, and I think I'm doing a good job of not second-guessing him. Of course you'll have to ask him for the official word on how I'm doing. I don't know how I ended up being such a control freak about how it all gets done, but I was really bad for a while. It was stupid, and I'm still working on it. In reality I know that teaching the kids responsibility by giving them chores will benefit our whole family in the long run, and it really doesn't matter if the towels are not perfectly folded. So here's to less work for mom, and responsible kids who are proud of what they can do!

nesting

I think the nesting has finally set in. I have been really inspired this past week, and we've gotten a lot done finally. I sorted out all the gender neutral baby clothes, and washed all those, plus all the sheets and other neccesary items. We've also cleand and organized the rest of the house. There is always more work to be done, especialy with 3 kids who keep making messes right after I clean up, but we are making progress. Hopefully we'll get the crib assembled today, and finish organizing the baby's room. Stay tuned for pictures of the nursery.

Now I just have to resist the urge to put up my Christmas tree already... or not

I also updated the ticker because my doctor said my due date was actually the 12th, and not the 15th. It's not like those 3 days make a huge difference since babies rarely come on the due date.

15 years

This is something I really don't post about, because it's sad, and I hate to be a downer, but I just felt like I couldn't let today go by and say nothing. For those who don't know, 15 years ago today, my dad died. I really can't even remember how I felt when I found out. I was only 10, and to be honest no one had really prepared my brother or I that dad was really that sick. I really think they told us the night before that the doctors felt there was nothing else they could do, and the next morning he was gone. Don't get me wrong, he had cancer, and we knew it, and we got that he was really sick, but I know I had no idea he was going to die until then.
At the time I didn't really understand all that he and I were going to miss out on. But as I got older I realized he would never know me as an adult, he wouldn't be there to walk me down the aisle, and he wouldn't get to be a grandpa. I know he'd have been a great Papa too! I hate that he is missing out on so much with my kids, and that they will never know him, at least not the way they deserve to know him. I am thankful that we have such a big family, and everyone loved him and has great memories to share with us about him. He really was a great man that everyone loved being around.
Sadly I am not the only one in my family to lose a parent way too soon, and when my uncle died, my cousin asked me when it would get better. All I could tell her was that it doesn't get better, it just gets different. You learn to live and go on without them, but you never forget or get over them not being there. There are still days I miss my dad more than I probably should, and all I can think about is how much it sucks that he isn't here with us. And then there are days that it almost seems completely normal to be living this life without him.
I can only hope he is looking down at us, and is proud of who I've become. I certainly didn't take all the "right" paths to get here, but I'm happy with how it all turned out, and I hope my dad would be too.